Download Revision Strategies

Research Paper
Suggestions for Self-Evaluation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Remove the essential question and the outlined areas of focus from the top.
Title it correctly and appropriately: Topic: Epithet (Odysseus: Wandering Hero)
Attention Getter: You have to have one, and it has to relate to your topic. Also,
your attention getter has to transition effectively into the summary of your myth.
Summarize your myth clearly but concisely. The first paragraph should not be the
longest one!
Do not write a report of your myth! You have to write a thesis-based paper in
which you prove or illustrate an idea that you generated. You will tell parts of
your story to support your thesis, not just to fill space.
State your thesis clearly at the end of the first paragraph; do not worry about
stating all your areas of focus as part of your thesis. Just make the thesis as short
and simple as possible.
o The first words in your thesis statement should be the name of your
assigned character. (It has to be the subject of the sentence.)
o Do not make your thesis statement dependent on other sentences that
come before it. It should be perfectly understandable on its own.
o Thesis statements are not questions. They are clearly stated answers!
All body paragraphs must have clear topic sentences.
o Topic sentences should be simple and clear: No “…because…and…so….”
o Topic sentences must make reference to the thesis statement so readers
can see how this information will support your thesis: One way Hercules
is similar to other heroes in Greek mythology is _____ ...Another way
Hercules resembles other mythical heroes is ____.... A final thing all the
Greek heroes seem to have in common is _________.
o Topic sentences can’t be questions. They are clearly stated answers!
o Don’t expect readers to see and understand similarities between characters
just because you have told the characters’ stories. Explain the similarities!
Show why the connections are significant!
Conclusion Paragraph: Don’t forget!
Works Cited Page: Format correctly! (Use Citation Machine!)
o Works Cited is a separate page.
o Works Cited should include ALL your sources, including the ones you
used to learn about the characters you compared your topic to.
o It should not be copied from your PowerPoint. No bullets.
o All lines of a works cited entry after the first one are indented.
o Put one space between works cited entries.
o Alphabetize entries.
Do not capitalize the words god and goddess when they refer to characters in
Greek mythology.
Include correct parenthetical documentation. (See instructions.)